AUTHOR ARCHIVES
Another Chance for Health Plan Changes
February 18, 2016 Except under certain defined circumstances, such as marriage or the birth of a child, you’re ordinarily not allowed to change your Federal Employee Health Benefits Program coverage outside of the annual open enrollment period. But this year, until the end of February, you may have such an opportunity. It’s all...
TSP Tax Tips
February 11, 2016 As you probably are well aware, the federal Thrift Savings Plan is about retirement savings. But it’s also about taxes. The money you put away in the TSP for your retirement years gets preferable tax treatment to provide you with a greater incentive to save now for your retirement later....
Changing Stakes on Claiming Social Security
February 4, 2016 As a result of a surprise move by Congress late last year, two popular strategies that can maximize Social Security retirement benefits are coming to an end. The problem, according to the Social Security Administration, is that use of the strategies “allowed couples with financial means to obtain additional or...
A Rare Open Season For Life Insurance
January 28, 2016 Each new year brings changes to federal employee and retiree benefits. One this year that will affect almost all employees is the change in Federal Employees Group Life Insurance premiums and a rare open season for life insurance. The last FEGLI open season was in 2004, in connection with the...
The List: A Retirement Resources Guide
January 21, 2016 Last week, I presented The Index, my annual guide to past columns. This week, it’s The List: a compilation of resources that I use on a daily basis to back up what I say to you and to any federal employee that asks me a retirement benefits question. These resources...
The Index: 2016 Edition
January 14, 2016 Maybe it was the way I was raised, but I love to organize and clean house. My mom did fall and spring cleaning every year. I grew up in Pittsburgh when the steel mills were still operational, so there was a good reason for all of her effort. This time...
Retirement Modernization, Take Five
December 17, 2015 The Office of Personnel Management has made various attempts to modernize the federal retirement process over the past couple of decades. These efforts have involved developing an integrated system and automated processes, but have failed to meet their goals. Recently, AINS Inc. announced that OPM had awarded the company a...
Getting the Best Health Plan Deal: An Experiment
December 10, 2015 As I’ve noted in recent columns, open season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program provides an opportunity to consider switching plans and potentially saving some money. Before this year’s open season ends on Monday, I wanted to provide an update on the non-scientific experimentI conducted with five friends this...
Solving the Open Season Puzzle
December 3, 2015 Do you remember those plastic sliding tile puzzles? They’re a timeless classic. The object of the game is to slide the numbers around until you get them in order. Choosing the best health plan during Federal Employee Health Benefits Program open season can be a lot like solving one of...
Recoup Some Savings During Open Season
November 27, 2015 I hope that some of you have the day off and are recovering from a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. If you are shopping today, then you must be looking for a bargain. You need look no further than your annual health benefits open season. There may not be an actual sale...